Turkey VultureCathartes aura

Turkey Vultures have earned recognition as nature's sanitation crew. Flying low over the ground, they use their incredible sense of smell and keen eyesight to search for the decaying animals on which they feed. You can't miss a Turkey Vulture. One of the largest flying birds, this vulture has a wingspan of almost 6 feet , this vulture sports a red head with no feathers. Why have feathers on a head that spends considerable time in decomposing flesh and in garbage dumps?! And it is this red head, which resembles that of a Turkey, that gave this vulture its name.

Unfortunately, the important role vultures play in nature has also given them a bad reputation. Globally, vulture populations are declining for many reasons, including poisoning and shooting by humans. Because they are long-lived, they are also victims of bioaccumulation, which occurs when chemicals, such as pesticides, accumulate in an organism until their levels are higher than the surrounding environment. Of 28 species of vultures, Turkey Vultures are one of 8 species that are not declining.